YOU probably didn't notice, what with all the excitement about the return of "Project Runway," the release of a survey by a marketing company last week noting that Donald J. Trump had beat out Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan as one of the most trusted fashion names in America. That's right: Donald Trump, the real estate mogul, television star, hair aesthete and confessed "germ freak." Even the editors of Women's Wear Daily seemed to be in a state of disbelief, since their report of the news was buried on the inside.
It couldn't be true. Mr. Armani has worked his fingers to the bone to be a world-renowned designer; spent a fortune advancing the idea too. And what about Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and those boys - what are their names? - Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana? They don't even make the list. Shut out of America. Ignored. Trumped. It's true.
The Donald J. Trump collection of suits, ties and dress shirts has been available for the last year at Macy's and other Federated department stores, a couple of hundred outlets in all. Terry J. Lundgren, the chief executive of Federated, has characterized the Trump apparel business as "an unbelievable runaway success." Mr. Trump doesn't design the clothes, he doesn't make them, and he doesn't spend a dime to promote them. And unlike most designers, he doesn't expend any effort trying to convince the American public that a billionaire, the keeper of Mar-a-Lago, the defender of capitalist culture, would dump his $5,000 Brioni suits in favor of his own $495 make. He wears his suits, which are produced for a royalty by a firm called Marcraft, but he also wears the other.
"I like Brioni; they treat me fantastically," Mr. Trump said last Friday from Florida, where he was watching a women's golf tournament at one of his clubs.
He may have been surprised himself to learn that he had done in a year of light lifting what has taken Ralph Lauren nearly 40 years to accomplish. That is, according to the survey, by Brand Keys, a marketing company in New York, his brand is seen as having the qualities that consumers most desire in clothes, namely comfort, style and fit. Brand Keys asked 500 adults, chosen from the nine census regions, to rate a total of 1,200 brands, ranging from banks and fast-food chains to apparel and consumer electronics.
Out of 50 fashion brands, however, only five ranked in the top category, called Human Brands, which simply meant that whether you hailed from a red state or a blue one, said "tomato" or "tumaytuh," you recognized values beyond the commoditized subsoil of price. The five were Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Victoria's Secret and, of course, Donald Trump.
A number of designer labels fell into a next-best category, called 21st-Century Brands, which suggested that names like Prada, Armani and Versace also resonated with consumers but without the same degree of meaning as the Human types. The inclusion in a third, more lowly category, Label, of Anne Klein, Bill Blass and Calvin Klein points up the staying power of a name long after the company's founder has died or retired and its product has struggled to be relevant.
Source: NYTimes.com
Tags: man fashion, Donald J. Trump, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karen,television star, human brands, 21st century brands, Label brands
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Update on Mischa's DUI
Mischa Barton was arrested in West Hollywood early Thursday morning, authorities confirm. The former star of The O.C., 21, was pulled over at 2:46 a.m. after her vehicle was seen straddling two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn, according to an L.A. County Sheriff Department statement released Thursday. She was arrested for DUI and driving without a valid license. "During Ms. Barton's detention, it was determined that she was an unlicensed driver and was driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage," according to police. "Ms. Barton was arrested and transported to West Hollywood Sheriff's station where the booking process was completed without incident." The investigation is ongoing. Shortly after 10 a.m., a West Hollywood deputy said: "Ms. Barton has been released from sheriff's custody after she posted $10,000 bail." Initially, police also said she'd been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics, but no more details were available. Barton is currently scheduled to host the opening of the new Las Vegas restaurant and lounge, CatHouse, over the weekend. A representative for Barton did not immediately return a request for comment.Brangelina's fast food Christmas
The Brangelina brood had a finger lickin’ good Christmas in New Orleans. Days before the holiday, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, were spotted strolling hand in hand as they shopped at Harry’s Corner and Santa’s Quarter in their French Quarter neighborhood. Later, Jolie took daughter Shiloh, 19 months, on a walk around town, letting her munch on Lay’s Chips and Cracker Jacks. The actress — who has admitted, “I’m not much of a cook” – proved that point when she and Pitt (in a white Nissan minivan) went through a McDonald’s drive-thru and picked up Happy Meals for their kids on Christmas Day. The day after Christmas, the family – sans Shiloh – hit the AMC Palace Theater to take in the family flick The Water Horse. And on the way home? They hit up another fast food restaurant: KFC.Leo and Bar: back on
Despite their brief break in October, Leonardo DiCaprio, 33, and Bar Refaeli, 22, were spotted holding hands at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills on Dec. 20. Are they back on? "They were never really 'off,'" a DiCaprio source says. "It was always a distance thing. Leo was making a movie in Morocco [this year], and Bar had her modeling career." Refaeli's mom, Zipi, says: "Bar is working all over the world. Says the DiCaprio pal, "It's a struggle to make a relationship like theirs work, but yes, they're together."Lindsay denies drinking before 2005 crash
Lindsay Lohan says she was sober before a 2005 car crash near Beverly Hills. The 21-year-old actress is being sued for negligence over the accident in which her Mercedes-Benz hit a van and injured the driver, Raymundo Ortega. Ortega, a busboy, alleges Lohan had been drinking at The Ivy restaurant before the crash even though she was underage at the time. Ortega is seeking at least $200,000 in damages from Lohan and the restaurant. But in a Dec. 15 declaration, Lohan stated: "I did not consume an alcoholic beverage or any type of medication or drug" either before or during her restaurant visit. A call to Lohan lawyer David Ozeran wasn't immediately returned Wednesday. Lohan's declaration was filed Friday in Superior Court by lawyers for The Ivy along with other documents, including a declaration by the waiter who served Lohan. The server, Adam Novicki, said Lohan didn't order alcohol. Alonzo Howell, a Los Angeles police officer who was providing security for The Ivy that day, also said he didn't see Lohan drinking. Lohan has countersued Ortega, citing a California Highway Patrol report that said he was at fault for the crash because he made an illegal U-turn. Lohan served 84 minutes in jail last month after pleading guilty to misdemeanour drunken driving and cocaine charges unrelated to the 2005 crash.Brendan Fraser splits from wife
Brendan Fraser announced Wednesday that he and his wife of nine-years, Afton, are ending their marriage. "They continue to maintain a close and caring friendship," a publicist for the 39-year-old Canadian-born actor said in a statement. The couple wed in 1998 and have three children.
Paris's inheritance goes to charity
Paris Hilton's future bank account has just taken an enormous hit – on account of her grandfather. Barron Hilton, the 80-year-old son of the founder of the worldwide hotel chain that carries the family name, has earmarked 97 percent of his vast fortune – nearly $2.3 billion – to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to help the homeless with housing, find safe water in developing countries and assist other good causes around the world, it has been announced. To Barron's heirs – who include Paris – will go the remaining three percent: some $69 million, which is said to be taxable. According to calculations by New York's Daily News, Paris, who once foresaw a $100 million inheritance, is now likely looking at $5 million. In a statement, Barron Hilton said that his father, Conrad, had set the example and bequeathed 97 percent of his money to the charitable foundation, which the elder Hilton founded in 1944, "and I am proud to follow my father's example." Hilton has eight children and numerous grandchildren in addition to the 26-year-old celebrated Beverly Hills socialite.
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